Thursday 30 September 2021

Europa League 2021/22 - Referee appointments for Matchday 2

2021/22 UEFA Europa League group stage continues with Matchday 2. These are the referees in charge of the upcoming games, to be played on 30 September 2021. 


30 September 2021

18:45 CET - Prague (Stadion Letná)
AC Sparta Praha (CZE) - Rangers FC (SCO) | Group A
Referee: Ali Palabiyik (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ceyhun Sesigüzel (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Serkan Olguncan (TUR) 
Fourth Official: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdulkadir Bitigen (TUR)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Halis Ozkahya (TUR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgi Yordanov (BUL)
UEFA Delegate: Jeroen Roest (NED)

18:45 CET - Décines-Charpieu (Parc Olympique Lyonnais)
Olympique Lionnais (FRA) - Brøndby IF (DEN) | Group A
Referee: Harald Lechner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Heidenreich (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Maximilian Kolbitsch (AUT)
Fourth Official: Markus Hameter (AUT)
Video Assistant Referee: Harm Osmers (GER)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Mete Kalkavan (TUR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Michalis Argyrou (CYP)
UEFA Delegate: Patrick Dempsey (IRL)

18:45 CET - Graz (Stadion Graz Liebenau)
SK Sturm Graz (AUT) - PSV Eindhoven (NED) | Group B
Referee: Yevhenii Aranovskyi (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrii Skrypka (UKR)
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov (UKR)
Video Assistant Referee: Denys Shurman (UKR)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Viktor Matyash (UKR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Erol Ersoy (TUR)
UEFA Delegate: Danijel Jošt (SVN)

18:45 CET - Donostia-San Sebastián (Estadio de Anoeta)
Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP) - AS Monaco (FRA) | Group B
Referee: Sergei Ivanov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Roman Usachev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Valeriy Danchenko (RUS)
Fourth Official: Kirill Levnikov (RUS)
Video Assistant Referee: Vitaliy Meshkov (RUS)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Alexey Lunev (RUS)
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović (SRB)
UEFA Delegate: Aurel Mihail Ionescu (ROU)

18:45 CET - Warsaw (Marshall Józef Piłsudski's Municipal Stadium of Legia Warsaw))
Legia Warszawa (POL) - Leicester City FC (ENG) | Group C
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Bojan Zobenica (CRO) 
Fourth Official: Duje Strukan (CRO) 
Video Assistant Referee: Orel Grinfeeld (ISR)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović (CRO)
UEFA Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)
UEFA Delegate: Thibault De Gendt (BEL)

18:45 CET - Naples (Stadio Diego Armando Maradona) 
SSC Napoli (ITA) - FC Spartak Moskva (RUS) | Group C
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (SVK) 
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko (SVK) 
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor (SVK)
Fourth Official: Peter Kralovic (SVK) 
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Blom (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili (GEO) 
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev (BUL)

18:45 CET - Istanbul (Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) - Olympiacos FC (GRE) | Group D
Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: José Enrique Naranjo Pérez (ESP) 
Assistant Referee 2: Teodoro Sobrino Magán (ESP) 
Fourth Official: César Soto Grado (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea (ESP) 
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Estrada Fernández (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Bakar Jordania (GEO)

18:45 CET - Duerne (Bosuil) 
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) - Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | Group D
Referee: Jakob Kehlet (DEN) 
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Hummelgaard (DEN) 
Assistant Referee 2: Heine Sørensen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jens Maae (DEN) 
Video Assistant Referee: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Ferenc Székely (HUN)
UEFA Delegate: David Pugh (ENG)

21:00 CET - Marseille (Vélodrome)
Olympique de Marseille (FRA) - Galatasaray A.Ş. (TUR) | Group E
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Radoslaw Siejka (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik (POL)
Fourth Official: Piotr Lasyk (POL)
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
UEFA Delegate: Matthew Paris (MLT)

21:00 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
S.S. Lazio (ITA) - FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) | Group E
Referee: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin (ENG) 
Fourth Official: Peter Bankes (ENG) 
Video Assistant Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Miroslav Tulinger (CZE)
UEFA Delegate: Mark Bos (NED) 

21:00 CET - Braga (Estádio Municipal de Braga)
SC Braga (POR) - FC Midtjylland (DEN) | Group F
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA) 
Assistant Referee 1: Mikael Berchebru (FRA) 
Assistant Referee 2: Guillaume Debart (FRA) 
Fourth Official: Johan Hamel (FRA) 
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod (FRA)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Alina Capațîna (MDA)

21:00 CET - Razgrad (Ludogorets Arena)
PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) - FK Crvena zvezda (SRB) | Group F
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pagès (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Mugnier (FRA) 
Fourth Official: Mikael Lesage (FRA) 
Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot (FRA)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos (CRO)
UEFA Delegate: Octavian Goga (ROU)

21:00 CET - Budapest (Ferencváros Stadion)
Ferencvárosi Torna Club (HUN) - Real Betis Balompié (ESP) | Group G
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: David Elias Bitton (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Sagy Metzamber (ISR)
Fourth Official: Erez Papir (ISR)
Video Assistant Referee: David Fuxman (ISR)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Ziv Adler (ISR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Igor Pristovnik (CRO)
UEFA Delegate: Nikoloz Jgarkava (GEO)

21:00 CET - Glasgow (Celtic Park) 
Celtic FC (SCO) - Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) | Group G
Referee: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Costanzo (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Matteo Passeri (ITA)
Fourth Official: Gianuca Manganiello (ITA) 
Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)
UEFA Delegate: Phivos Constantinides (CYP)

21:00 CET - Genk (KRC Genk Arena)
KRC Genk (BEL) - GNK Dinamo (CRO) | Group H
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Peter Aravirta (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mikko Alakare (FIN)
Fourth Official: Petri Viljanen (FIN) 
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler (NED) 
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann (SUI)
UEFA Delegate: Sergiu Lisnic (MDA)

21:00 CET - London (London Stadium)
West Ham United FC (ENG) - SK Rapid Wien (AUT) | Group H
Referee: Tobias Stieler (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger (GER) 
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assisant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel (FRA)
UEFA Delegate: Róbert Agnarsson (ISL)                       

131 comments:

  1. No good signal for Stieler. Siebert and Zwayer with important CL Matches he gets only EL after CL Round of 16 last year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The game in London can be interesting, but indeed I agree that it is not a good signal for Stieler. Since his promotion to Elite and the famous Atalanta - Real Madrid, he has disappeared from big assignments, being out from CL for a long time. Maybe he should regain a bit of trust by committee, but the management of German referees is more than weird. Now we will have Siebert replacing Brych and getting the Elite status, but the ranking of the four will stay unclear.
    About the rest, I don't see particular observers in this round, but the appointment of Di Bello in Celtic - Bayer Levekerkusen must be reported. I have a feeling this was the game for Massa but they switched, to give Massa the chance to recover after the stop, before getting something in the two major competitions on MD3 or 4.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For the German referees, I think, one has to wait for the next matchdays to know the order between Aytekin, Stieler and Zwayer. I would not be surprised to see Stieler in CL next time instead of one of the other two.
      Siebert seems to be clearly above the three though.

      Delete
    2. Agree with Phillpp, we need to wait to see the "order"

      Delete
  3. Big game for Ivanov, didn’t expect first category (let alone Ivanov) there

    ReplyDelete
  4. My feeling is that the most sonorous and tough games have been assigned to Raczowski, Hernandez Hernandez and Di Bello.

    I'm surpuised to see J. Estrada Fernandez as VAR, I was supposed he left the refereeing after his retirement

    I have a question concerning VAR; all of them (CL and EL) will act from the Uefa Headquarter in Nyon ? If not is there a way to know which one are on the filed and which one at uefa department ?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unbelievable story in Croatia.

    Ivan Bebek has been accused of speaking out against Hajudk fans and some of their journalist,there is sound proof of that.

    In that sound he is saying thaht he thinks there was no penalty,thaht every match should start 2 0 for Hajduk so everyone would be happy,he called some journalist trash and some other vulgar words and so on,so on...

    There is situation:
    https://youtu.be/StbgT9lJ6rE?t=85


    Some media services in Croatia are predicting him huge fine,to being suspended even couple of years and not being able to referee match ever again.
    He needs to present his case in afternoon hours and we know that he has match in 18.45 between Legia and Leicester.

    I think that even if he continues with refereeing,he will have huge consequences.

    For sure he wont be able to handle Hajduk's matches ever again(with that not a biggest match in Croatia),which is a shame because last couple of years he proved that he is top Croatian ref and this match he did,he made a mistake but these Hajduk fans,man.

    They will not let you get away with anything, I mean they were hating him for years and were saying that he robbed him every time he si ref in their matches and I'm sure they will be glad if he gest a huge fine.

    Shame this happened,but it was boiling over and we're at this situation.

    Interesting for sure will be what Croatian Comitee will decide for Bebek.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tnx for sharing this so I dont have to.

    I would only add that it was a private conversation leaked out. And in that conversation he explains in detail why for him it is better not to whistle that as a pk, and basically he is very frustrated but nothing in the conversation points that he is not professional on the pitch. He complains that it is hard to be a professional in that crazy atmosphere.

    Anyway, I hope he will officiate a match tonight (I saw him going to the airport with his ARs yesterday), but in the case he cant for whatever reason, Strukan, Jović and Grinfeld could easily step in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BTW, Grinfeld is still injured and appointed only as VAR.

      Delete
  7. A situation reported by "Alex F" a few days ago, from Youth League game PSG - Manchester City.
    Video:
    https://streamja.com/N31BX
    I couldn't find more replays.

    Comment:
    "The U19 match between PSG and Man City this morning (my time) had an interesting red card against Man City around the 66th or 67th minute today.

    Play was in the Man City PA, DOGSO situation that looked (from the one replay I caught) that it was an attempt to play the ball from behind, but clearly the referee saw something different (a push?) and felt that there was no attempt to play the ball in the course of the foul and that the attempt to play was because of the offence.

    Not sure if anyone has video of it or not, but it wouldbe an interesting one to look at a bit more closely."

    ReplyDelete
  8. Juventus vs. Chelsea || Jesús Gil Manzano [Juan Martínez Munuera]

    Full clips HL can be found here:
    https://fromsmash.com/juventuschelseagilmanzano

    Analysis (big decisions; managing the game) can be found in two subsequent posts below.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Big Decisions


      8’ - Penalty appeal Juventus (tripping)
      https://streamable.com/shed5g

      25’ - Potential penalty to Chelsea (tackle)
      https://streamable.com/tlikrc

      61’ - Potential penalty to Chelsea (tripping)
      https://streamable.com/9z25em

      87’ - Potential penalty to Chelsea (handling)
      https://streamable.com/r7acb0

      +93’ - Potential SYC to Cuadrado (tackle)
      https://streamable.com/b18lga


      My views:


      Gil Manzano was clearly correct to play on in the first three scenes -

      8’ - definitely fair tackle, perfect position from the ref to adjudicate, clear gestures too

      25’ - fine tackle on the ball, the trailing leg contact was only trifling

      61’ - any collision was generated by the attacker stopping and waiting to be crashed into, correct play on


      The most controversial decision is 87’; I guess if Chelsea were 0-1 up and it went against Juventus, it would be much more so :P. Play on is correct for me. Danilo needs his arms in the air for coordination, they are not tense, and the ball hits him on the upper arm, not the actual hand or sth. I see a clear difference between this situation and the famous penalty given in Paris vs. Manchester United. I guess (understandably!), Gil Manzano missed this scene live, so Martínez Munuera clearing this situation is good work by the VAR.


      +93’ shouldn’t be a (second) yellow card - as Slavko Vinčić showed us on Tuesday, not all late sliding tackle fouls are automatically reckless; especially at the top level. Cuadrado was more targeted at blocking the ball, and the contact with Chilwell was not really significant. Correct freekick only.

      Delete
    2. Managing the Game

      To me, it seemed like the significance of this assignment went under the radar on our blog - for the first time since Lyon vs. Juventus in February 2020, one had the impression that UEFA were pushing Jesús Gil Manzano quite hard. And in the same week that his ‘rival’ in the (approaching?) post-Mateu days, Carlos del Cerro Grande also got a surprisingly big game, that significance - at least for me - felt even larger.

      This performance was far, far away from a disaster by Gil Manzano. But by the same token, the Spanish ref didn’t really convince me with regard of his skills to become a top Elite official (in the future). He delivered the game and this performance was not really bad, but looking towards years coming up, I find it hard to be excited about Gil Manzano’s future development.

      I didn’t really feel like at one moment, the referee really took the initiative in this Juventus vs. Chelsea game, rather letting the incidents pass him by having taken his decisions. Perhaps the clearest example of this is in a sequence early in the game:

      -> 11’, quite heavy tackle by Alonso, YC would not be wrong, however would inflame everyone, but some kind of warning, even by whistle tone, signal, against such play was needed IMO

      -> 12’, contretemps between Ziyech and Locatelli, when the Chelsea player tries to get in the way of a quick freekick; Ziyech had buzzed around from the start of the match, playing with too much adrenaline having committed some fouls etc, and actually could have done with some calming down on a management level; Gil Manzano’s solution was to physically get between these two players, and succeed in warning / connecting with neither!

      -> 18’, this yellow card to Alonso; I have mixed feelings about this, on the one hand it was clearly an unfair play by the Chelsea player and basically everyone accepted this decision; however, to me, more important than card or not would be take the initiative in this scene, and while giving a yellow card is a positive decision, to me it felt like the whole scene ‘overtook’ the Spanish referee, Alonso running away while being booked, and he didn’t really calm the match down as a result

      While the temperature in the match did calm down a bit after that, it felt quite independent of the referee’s actions that it happened. The rest was quite card-or-nothing (11’, 41’, 57’, 65’), and while it may be understated because of Gil Manzano’s generally enthusiastic, chatty manner, I think he was really isolated as a leadership figure, unable to really reach or warn players throughout the game.

      It didn’t matter so much here, everyone was quite focused on the game and it remained calm of its own accord, I am genuinely missing what armoury this referee has to use in a challenging match which requires careful tactical choices, without it spiralling out of control. It is not really that fair to bring up past matches, but the third-place playoff at U20 WC 2019 is clear evidence of that.

      So, did Jesús Gil Manzano have a successful evening? If the question being asked was, can this referee handle normal difficulty, high-profile CL matches, then yes. If it was regards to being Spain’s next top international referee, then I would argue the answer is different.

      UEFA can carry on pushing him, to the untrained eye, with his friendly manner and just stunning fitness, I guess he doesn’t look out of place in Juventus vs. Chelsea, in CL KO, at the WC, etc. But as FIFA finally found out with Jamal Al-Sharif in the 1980s-90s (the Syrian and Gil Manzano are more-or-less exactly the same referee!), they really risk a big mess at the end, at least in my view.

      Delete
    3. Excellent work, thank you.
      My views on the incidents are quite similar to your assessments, however for me second YC had to be issued and I think that we are definitely starting to have more troubles with handballs. Now each situation can have many arguments for both play-on and whistle. In this case I think penalty had to be whistled because player could have avoided the contact with arm. The rules before were surely strict, but at least less subjective, now we must go through a very long analysis and this isn't a good thing.
      Overall, Gil Manzano gives indeed the feeling that he prefers to let everything go without taking initiative, as you wrote, but this can work only in some games. I would be very curious to see him in a very challenging game at UEFA level, the perception of yesterday matach was still of a very fair atmosphere.

      Delete
    4. For me it's a reckless tackle. It came out as nothing serious at the end but the nature of the tackle is that the player doesn't care for his opponent's safety. The fouled player's standing leg could have been seriously injured if that player didn't raise it in the last moment.

      And I don't find it useful to compare it with Vincic' management of tackles in RBL-BRU. He de facto missed a clear YC in 37' there.

      Delete
  9. I am curious how other people view Del Cerro Grande. For me, he is on the level somewhere between Elite and category 1. He has been poor in CL and EURO (I do not focus too much on La Liga, so it is possible to miss something good on him). Perhaps he constantly being assigned for big games (ex: PSG-Man City, Dortmund-Man city, France-Germany)? I do not see any possibility for him to attend next WC based on his performance in non-domestic competition. What is your opinion?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe not many people on this blog are impressed by DCG, but I think it is obvious that UEFA puts him into imaginary "higher elite" group. So I think it is very hard to predict in his case.

      Delete
    2. I think when entering the elite category he was surely one of the best in UEFA, his first season(s) too. But somehow he has become one of the most lenient and inconsistent referees. I don't know if it's deliberate change of style, personal issues or something else but his performances are far from good, expected level for some time.

      Delete
    3. I agree with Euro Soccer Ref, no doubt he absolutely deserved to join the Elite category when he made this very important step: outstanding path from Category 2 to the top in a short time, but then in recent times something has changed. Performance level has decreased, a too much sophisticated decision-making process is in my opinion the first issue.
      Very often the problem is not the final decision itself, but how he takes it. However, he seems to be the first name from Spain for WC 2022, RFEF has abolished age limits just for allowing him to attend the major tournament in Qatar.
      He should recover, but I still hope to see Mateu Lahoz as well!

      Delete
    4. I agree with all of you. Lahoz is expected to be in WC 2022 and I have a big doubt on DCG. Maybe he is still safe as the committee likes him a lot. I would prefer to see some other names (Siebert, Karasev, Oliver......) handle more high-profile games in CL.

      Delete
  10. Italian Referee President, A. Trentalange, has proposed the promotion of L. Pairetto and D. Chiffi as new FIFA referee for 2022 replacing respectively G. Doveri and P. Valeri.
    AT the same time I can't understand why Massa and Fabbri are removed from PMO list while they will remain as FIFA main referee

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anybody know why Alejandro Hernandez isn’t elite yet? Why is Gil Manzano ahead of him? Hernandez is seen as one of the best in Spain, perhaps second only to Lahoz, and he has officiated more El Clasico than Lahoz! For me he should be ahead of Gil Manzano.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll try to answer you from what I saw from these refs in their years.

      Both FIFA listed in 2014, RFEF CTA first had focus on Gil Manzano: he showed more potential than Hernández Hernández in his first La Liga years IMO, he made his Clasico debut in 2014-2015 season, where he was fine from what I recall. Then he was not appointed again for this clash until last season, what I personally don't understand given the fact he passed the test quite well. I think committee didn't saw in him the talent to handle the biggest game frequently, like Mateu or Hernández Hernández currently do, or like Undiano did in the 2010-2014 Era.
      In UEFA competitions, he did okay, but not enough to be promoted to Elite IMO. I think committee pushed him back at the time to prepare the next top Spanish referee (and maybe didn't spot Mateu's potential yet), which was wrong according to performance principle.

      As For Hernández Hernández, I recall him struggling in his first seasons in player management and attitude (his temper from 2013 to 2015 reminds me of Sanchez Martinez'one), then made a good 2015-2016 season where we was deservedly appointed to a Clasico. After that, from 2017 to 2021 he made a really good development, showing to be able to handle big games domestically and more recently showing good performances in UEFA games, getting him promoted to First category.

      To talk about the number of Clasicos respectively handled, IMO this is more about RFEF-CTA's choice. Hernández Hernández has been massively trusted and got several Clasicos, but when you see some of his performances in these one can wonder why he was so trusted (one in 2018 was a max 7.1 mark, at least 4 crucial mistakes made +loss of control), while Gil Manzano was not trusted, while he shown good performances in his domestic games.
      In general, the pool of referees who handles clasico is way too small: Sanchez Martinez, Mateu and Hernández Hernández are the only ones officiating Clasicos often, while other good refs like Martinez Munuera (got his first last season, while being one of the best in Spain for years), Gil Manzano or De Burgos Bengoetxea (got one in 2016 when he was clearly not ready, didn't handle another since then) weren't trusted. So I don't think we should read their ranking based on the number of Clasicos they refereed.

      IMO Gil Manzano is still ahead in UEFA rightly so (he made a good tournament in last Copa America), while Hernández Hernández still has to do a bit more before being promoted (he will be Elite IMO, I think he has the potential).

      To summon the topic, Gil Manzano got his ascension too early which didn't helped him sometimes (not looking like a solid Elite referee when you watch him), and Hernández Hernández caught the train late, but he surely will made another step in UEFA.

      Delete
  12. Looks like Bebek wil be in charge of his regularly scheduled match.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 21' 1st YC to Leicestwr's Thomas, stamp.

      Maybe sof, but correct booking. There was alsoxpenalty appeal in 2'but it was checked and nothing was given.

      Delete
  13. DFB has announced the FIFA referees für 2022:

    Sven Jablonski (31) and Daniel Schlager (31) will replace Dr. Felix Brych (46) and Marco Fritz (43).

    Marco Fritz will stay on the FIFA VMO list with Daniel Schlager replacing Tobias Welz on the VMO list. Dr. Riem Hussein replaces Bibiana Steinhaus on the VMO list.

    New AR will be Robert Kempter, who will replace Thorsten Schiffner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good. Most capable young refs have been nominated.

      Delete
    2. https://www.dfb.de/fileadmin/_dfbdam/247934-OM_09_2021_Final.pdf

      Delete
  14. OFR in Napoli - Spartak, Kruzliak after having been called by Dankert changed YC in RC for SFP.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kehlet with a very strong first half in Antwerp.
    Not falling for multiple attempts of diving, very consistent foul identification, plenty of undisturbed real football.

    Only downside: Two offside situations overlooked by ARs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Overall excellent match by Kehlet in a very heated atmosphere. I really enjoyed his and Raczkowski's calm performances in very difficult matches last night.

      Delete
  16. Second OFR in Naples, penalty whistled by Kruzliak and Dankert invited him to rewatched, but a mass confrontation started and referee was forced to suspend the OFR.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Penalty revoked, I fully agree with Dankert there.
    Meanwhile, AR2 kept under control the confrontation and suggested to Kruzliak the players to be booked. Very well.
    Strange first half: apart from these hot minutes, straight RC and penalty in the end, the rest was extermely calm!
    A correct YC was issued to Spartak player for a reckless challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only saw the penalty incident, good intervention from Dankert.
      What about the RC? Any video?

      Delete
  18. Challenging first half for Hernández Hernández, who showed why he was a great choice for this Greco-Turkish clash:

    - three EXCELLENTLY delivered verbal warnings (12' SPA/reckless; 26' dissent; 30' DtR)

    - very interesting Fenerbahçe penalty appeal (handling) at 31'; hard to tell exactly what happened (from my stream?) but arm rather tucked in and maybe it hit the thigh/chest (first) anyway

    - supportable caution for simulation at 38' (I guess most refs would have just played on, clear no foul in any case)

    - two good cautions for aggressive behaviour at 42', necessary to manage the game

    - did well to slow the game down at 43', insisting a basic freekick was taken from the correct place, allowed everyone to calm a bit

    - correct caution for a reckless tackle at 45' (clear no SFP)

    Very impressive movement, I like his generally distant or rather efficient style, he showed that he has very sophisticated soft skills in those warnings. I hope the Spanish ref can keep up this high level in the 2H; the atmosphere is very hot in Istanbul!

    ReplyDelete
  19. First OFR, YC changed in RC:
    https://streamable.com/1abak6

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Chefren :) Correct decision for me.

      Delete
  20. Now in 65' another bad foul, Kruzliak booked the player and he was immediately faced by a player from SSC Napoli asking for RC. He booked the player as well. The Slovakian is definitely in trouble to keep game under control, with two OFR not the best impression so far.
    Correctly disallowed goal by AR2.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I noticed that Kruzliak changed his whistle, interesting

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very passive managment from Ivanov after a mass confronatition between the players. Not a big fan.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Realized the blog has been missing the prediction game so I say we bring it back now that I have more time on my hands. Is there interest? Would need a teammate to help type the names of the matches but I can handle the rest. Comment to show interest either to bring the prediction game back or to lend a hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS here is the form for MD3: https://forms.gle/4SuDsNnRRGppCmM78

      Delete
    2. I would be interested.
      And there is a mistake for group D in the form.
      Furthermore shouldn't there be a field for the nickname?

      Delete
  24. Correct late PK by Kehlet in Antwerp.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Has anyone seen Leicester's disallowed goal? I think the whistle was blown earlier but I didn't understand for what exactly. May need to rewatch this incident again.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Soft penalty for Midtjylland but I guess its not a VAR stuff once its given.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, defender left leg there, attacker used it for the contact, but technically a penalty you can't deny, it is accepted.
      I liked body language by Frappart when she whistled it.

      Delete
  27. Now another penalty by Stéphanie Frappart for a challenge by keeper, it should be confirmed as well. Not clearly on the opponent, ball was hit at the same time, but you can give it. Quick reaction by the French again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Good onside by AR2 in Leverkusen goal.

    ReplyDelete
  29. France again and again tribune events. Get out of date!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Raczkowski must be (along Nyberg?) the only UEFA referee I've seen refereeing this season without being shaved :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raczkowski prevented the goal at 45+8. It's really incredible. A referee must know how to take a position.

      Delete
    2. Then go and see Al Hakim.

      Delete
  31. Third penalty in Frappart's game, this time after OFR.
    Could have been seen live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 3 penalties in 53 minutes

      (Kulbakov: Hold my beer XD)

      Delete
  32. Penalty in the Celtic game - bit harsh, ball hits the defenders side and then onto his outstretched arm.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What do you think about Di Bello's handball penalty in CEL-LEV?

    ReplyDelete
  34. Penalty given by di Bello in Glasgow. It looked to me like the ball hit the body first but I need to see another replay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I confirm that, first body then arm.
      If you analyze the movement of defender you see that arm is in consistent position.
      I really don't know what to say about handballs, everything can be cancelled as well as supported.

      Delete
    2. Agree, Chefren; very alarming development re. handball, this week underlined the big deficiencies because everything can be assessed in both directions.
      In this concrete scene, penalty is rather wrong IMO, arm isn't actively moving towards the ball but is rather in one position that can be justified by his sliding movement.
      But you can also support Di Bello by saying that the attacker enlarges his body surface carelessly, even provocating a penalty here with this arm position.
      VAR has de facto no chance to intervene for handball when a contact with the arm can be detected and it isn't totally neutral.

      Delete
    3. Doesn't matter if the ball hit the body first. Ask yourself if he made himself unnaturally bigger or not. If your answer is no then it's not a handball. If yes, then it makes zero difference if it hit the body first. The law is clear that any unnatural handball is always a foul no matter the circumstances.

      Delete
    4. I believe the referee should be supported in such situations. No matter of desicion.

      Delete
  35. Penalty by Stieler to Rapid Wien looks very soft if not wrong.
    Should be subject of an OFR, I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok, OFR made and I think there wasn't any contact at all. Attacker fell by himself.

      Delete
    2. OFR overturn. I'm watching the game and I would have probably gave it on first glance. Good thing for VAR.

      Delete
    3. yes, was good intervention. in real speed it looked like an unfair challenge, however in review and with slomo i couldnt find neither a foul nor a contact. that's a good example on how to use var quickly and effectively!

      Delete
    4. https://streamable.com/nuo48d

      Delete
    5. Totally correct, slight contact at the knee doesn't justify the exaggeration of the contact by the attacker; I think Stieler assessed the contact before the self-tripping as more intense than it actually was, so the VAR intervention is an appropriate decision.

      Delete
    6. Yeah, totally correct intervention by Dingert. Might have been a slight contact at the knee, but clearly not enough for a penalty

      Delete
  36. IMO correct PK+RC by Gestranius in Belgium.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Very long OFR in Marseille. I think almost a record.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too grey for my taste for an OFR unless Raczkowski said that he missed something.

      Delete
    2. Scandal PK returned from VAR.

      Delete
    3. Correct decision imo, no penalty. But the Uefa graphic showed not in the penalty box area ?! I think the referee decided it was a simulation. But no yellow card then? I am still a little confused.

      Delete
    4. soft contact not enough for a penalty ,correct intervention

      Delete
    5. In my opinion a pure application of VAR protocol in this case should have led to support the referee call.
      When we have so long OFR and referee doesn't know what to decide, you can have already an answer in your mind: not a clear situation.
      Should be easy to think that!

      Delete
    6. Laughable simulation. Must be a yellow card after the review.

      Delete
    7. I agree with Quilava and Chefren, this is not a clear and obvious error for me either

      Delete
    8. There was no contact in the position.

      Delete
    9. I think VAR should have supported the PK. It is always very hard to judge how much force there is in bumps like that, as there is no clear point of contact.

      Delete
  38. RC for DOGSO by S. Frappart:
    https://streamja.com/aX42d
    Overall the perception of an absolutely correct decision, but can attacker reach the ball again after having kicked it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely correct decision for RC. It is clear DOGSO. Excellent work from Frappart. She was very quick and without any hesitation. Well done! For me yes, the attacker can reach the ball after having kick it.

      Delete
    2. 1/ Excellent advantage and 2/ clear red card for DOGSO.
      TOP decisions !!

      Delete
  39. PFC Ludogorets- FK Crvena zvezda
    Referee: Jérôme Brisard

    55' Missed penalty for illegal use of hands? Is this for OFR?

    https://streamable.com/g29xqd

    77' I don't know why Brisard gave second YC. I rewatched this video several times and I can't see any foul...

    https://streamable.com/18jjh0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 77' Another angle
      https://streamable.com/30hed6

      Delete
    2. 77' Horrible simulation by the opponent, just holding his head for nothing IMO.

      Delete
    3. 55' Probably a PK, but nothing for VAR IMO

      Delete
  40. After the match, Marseille's managers marched on the referee. They shaked their fingers. Also, Foreign materials were thrown from the tribunes throughout the match. The game was stopped for 10 minutes in the first half. Unbelievable things happened for a UEFA match.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For example, President of Marseille: Pablo Longoria

      https://im.ge/i/TpSkIy

      Delete
  41. A bit disturbing scene in Antwerp-Frankfurt, a fireworks rocket exploded between legs of the goalkeeper, surprising him completely. Luckily everything was ok so the game continued in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Kruzliak's 12 YCs today equal the EL record by Karasev (Salzburg-Marseille 2018) and Erdemir (Fiorentina-Innsbruck 2000). And he even added a straight RC to that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting, thanks for sharing, Philipp. Do you know the YC record for CL by any chance?

      Delete
    2. CL YC record is also 12 YC, it happened 3 times:
      Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid (Final 2014; Björn Kuipers)
      Bayern Munich - Juventus (2016; Jonas Eriksson)
      Borussia Mönchengladbach - Inter (2020; Danny Makkelie)

      Another game with a lot of cards is Celtic - Atletico Madrid (1974; Dogan Babacan) with 8 YC and 3 RC

      Delete
    3. Thanks! Did not expect Eriksson will give that many YCs. But for sure, it depends on intensity

      Delete
  43. OT

    News from Switzerland. Esther Staubli (FIFA Women) handled her first game in Swiss Super League (highest division) about 3 weeks ago on 11.09. She was praised by both media and fans for a good performance.
    Might she be a candidate for international matches in male competitions too like Monzul and Frappart? She has a really high standing amongst women Fifa referees so I expect her in Conference League or WC Qualifiers sooner or later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hope so! however, after very disastrous performance in olympic tournament, and being sent home with one match only (although being a sure final-contender) she needs to regain trust. hopefully she will get appointed more often from now on in super league :-)

      Delete
  44. Fenerbahçe Istanbul vs. Olympiakós Pireaus ||
    Alejandro Hernández Hernández [Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea]

    12’, 26’, 30’ - excellent verbal warnings
    https://streamable.com/0tnqpb

    31’ - potential penalty to Fenerbahçe (handling)
    https://streamable.com/ofemat

    38’ - caution to Olympiakós no.45 (simulation)
    https://streamable.com/atn1eg

    42’ - confrontation; cautions to FEN no.13 and OLY no.66 (aggressive behaviour)
    https://streamable.com/455bis

    45’ - caution to Olympiakós no.24 (tackle)
    https://streamable.com/4e7s86

    47’ - potential SYC to Fenerbahçe no.13 (simulation)
    https://streamable.com/ayan3m

    52’ - foul? If so - no sanction, SPA or DOGSO?
    https://streamable.com/hzgxlz

    54’ - dissent reaction
    https://streamable.com/s6puv2

    57’ - penalty appeal; potential SYC to Fenerbahçe no.13 (simulation)
    https://streamable.com/3nqjnt

    68’ - handling (APP?) before 0-3 goal?; potential offside offence
    https://streamable.com/jyxc8a

    72’ - reckless or SFP?; caution to Fenerbahçe no.26 (tackle)
    https://streamable.com/eyy290

    83’ - correct onside by Teodoro Sobrino Magán
    https://streamable.com/ci9bxv

    => I think observer Nicola Rizzoli will give the Spanish referee(s) a positive grade; chance for a Hernández Hernández CL debut as soon as this season?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for those clips

      IMO his biggest minus was foul detection. He never found a clear line and was inconsistent at times.

      Delete
  45. OT

    Slavko Vincic (UEFA Elite) will handle the Greek Classico between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. His assistants are Tomaz Klancnik and Adriaz Kovaccic. VAR is Vitor Ferreira (POR).

    ReplyDelete
  46. Predictions Nations League
    ITA-ESP: Vincic
    BEL-FRA: Taylor
    3rd place: Zwayer
    Final: Cakir

    Predictions WC qualifiers
    AZE-IRL: Bieri (SUI) LUX-SRB: Marciniak (POL) POR-QAT: Lindhout (NED)
    POR-LUX: Kovacs (ROU) SRB-AZE: Kabakov (BUL) IRL-QAT: McNabb (NIR)

    SWE-KOS: Meler (TUR) GEO-GRE: Farkas (HUN)
    SWE-GRE: Kulbakov (BLR) KOS-GEO: Viljanen (FIN)

    LTU-BUL: Cann (MLT) SUI-NIR: Soares Dias (POR)
    BUL-NIR: Stavrev (MKD) LTU-SUI: Gözübüyük (NED)

    FIN-UKR: del Cerro Grande (ESP) KAZ-BIH: Weinberger (AUT)
    KAZ-FIN: Madley (ENG) UKR-BIH: Petrescu (ROU)

    CZE-WAL: Karasev (RUS) EST-BLR: di Bello (ITA)
    BLR-CZE: Özkahya (TUR) EST-WAL: Durieux (LUX)

    SCO-ISR: Gil Manzano (ESP) FAR-AUT: Moen (NOR) MDA-DEN: Harvey (IRL)
    DEN-AUT: Buquet (FRA) ISR-MDA: Bezborodov (RUS) FAR-SCO: Martins (POR)

    TUR-NOR: Stieler (GER) LVA-NED: Kavanagh (ENG) GIB-MNE: Al-Hakim (SWE)
    NED-GIB: Stoyanov (BUL) NOR-MNE: Aranovsky (UKR) LVA-TUR: Walsh (SCO)

    RUS-SVK: Oliver (ENG) CYP-CRO: Burchardt (DEN) MLT-SVN: Thorarinsson (ISL)
    CRO-SVK: Makkelie (NED) SVN-RUS: Bognar (HUN) CYP-MLT: Steen (NOR)

    POL-SMR: Muntean (MDA) HUN-ALB: Nyberg (SWE) AND-ENG: Boiko (UKR)
    ENG-HUN: Visser (BEL) ALB-POL: Turpin (FRA) SMR-AND: Griffith (WAL)

    GER-ROU: Sidiropoulos (GRE) ISL-ARM: Stefanski (POL) LIE-MKD: Schneider (FRA)
    ROU-ARM: Kruzliak (SVK) ISL-LIE: Zelinka (CZE) MKD-GER: Mariani (ITA)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Brych will get the Nations League final as a farwell game. Schneider is not a FIFA referee anymore, actually he's not even a Ligue 1 referee. Moen will most likely not get a game either, considering how he's been treated

      Delete
    2. Agree about Brych and the final appointment, however Schneider is still FIFA listed, because FIFA uses gregorian calender with its referees (You can see him wear his FIFA badge in Ligue 2). He will stay on the French international list until January 2022, where he will be replaced.

      Based on his domestic situation, I don't think Schneider will get a game either, maybe a farewell game in December, although it seems unlikely.

      Delete
    3. Yes, Brych certainly is also a good candidate for the final.
      I wasn't aware of Schneider's demotion. If he's not refereeing in Ligue 1, he indeed shouldn't get a qualifier.
      And yes, Moen is without UEFA appointment for over two years, I wonder, why he still is on the list. The same counts for Bezborodov by the way.

      Delete
    4. Philipp, you surely just didn't expect Schneider to be relegated, and rightly so.

      As a Frenchman who follows carefully refereeing in Ligue 1, Schneider's demotion couldn't be based on performance principle, otherwise it would just be a scandal, he is one of the most trustworthy officials in France. This season in Ligue 2 he is far better than any other referee, and has nothing to do in the second division. Something happened with the French refereeing committee (DTA).

      We often see this kind of "personal" demotions and punishments, It also happen to Nicolas Rainville 2 years ago (relegated because of conflict between him and DTA and not because of performances).
      or a few years ago with Lannoy who got a 5 months ban for calling the committee "autocratic".

      Delete
    5. Interesting stuff I didn't know about. And you are indeed right, Schneider is still a FIFA referee (on paper at least).

      Delete
    6. Moen now has a full-time job as the director of the ambulance service in his home city, it is beyond me how he still has the badge. He continues to appear regularly in domestic games though.

      Delete
  47. DCG continues with his "great" performances, clear penalty for handball missed even though he had a perfect view. Given after OFR.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Regarding Cakir: he will whistle GER-ROM on 8.10 (no Nations League for him). In VAR room will be Abdulkadir Bitigen and Huseyin Gocek.

    ReplyDelete
  49. OT:
    Looks like Bebek wil be suspended for 6 months and wont ever again handle Hajduk's matches.

    What a circus from Croatian Comitee and congrats to Hajduk for getting their wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The most unfortunate thing is that everything he said regarding Hajduk was true and even media knows that but they are attacking him on daily basis.
      But on the other hand, this could start a real war if Bebek decides to fight against potential suspension, expecialy if he unites with some other ex-referees who are for sure not happy with current structures in Croatian referees committee.

      Delete
    2. Yep, some other and some current refs who are under big pressure every time they whistle matches where Hajduk is playing.

      Delete
  50. Predictions for Nations League Finals:

    Semifinals
    ITA - ESP Anthony Taylor (ENG)
    BEL - FRA Sergei Karasev (RUS)

    Final
    Felix Brych (GER)

    Third Place
    Artur Dias (POR)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Soto Grado for Atlético - Barcelona?! How / Why did that happen, is he having such a great season?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Munuera is injured, so Soto is replacing him.

      Delete
    2. But there is also a reason why he got in the age of 45 a Promotion to fifa referee. His performances since last season are very constant I think

      Delete
    3. 41 I wanted to say. Sry

      Delete
  52. Good/expected performance by Soto Grado in Atlético-Barcelona.

    To think that 3 years ago (2017/18 season) he was in 3rd division...

    In the 2ªB to Segunda 2018 play-offs he was appointed for Cartagena-Extremadura (play-off final 2nd leg) where he had an absolutelly excellent performance (8.6/8.7 area, one of the best performances I can remember in recent years in Spanish refereeing) and that was his turning point. It is said that Velasco Carballo (who had entered office 1 month before that match) 'respected' the promotion lists made by Sánchez Arminio's CTA as they were the ones who monitored the referees during the season... with one exception. Soto Grado was expected to referee the match because of his many years of experience in the category and then go home to start his last season in 2ªB. Apparently VC said that no way that a referee with that performance in a play-off final doesn't get promoted, and his only change in the lists was to promote him to Segunda.

    The following year he proved his abilities and experience and was appointed to a LaLiga promotion play-off in his first season in Segunda (Deportivo-Málaga, SF 1st leg). That first season would actually be his only one, as maybe surprisingly but in no case undeservedly was promoted to LaLiga.

    I posted months ago (before he was confirmed as new FIFA) that he would be 100% the next Spanish FIFA referee... if he was 5 years younger, as like in his previous promotion he adapted quickly to the category and had solid performances like if it was his 10th season in LaLiga, being trusted wt. But, you see...

    This was the Cartagena-Extremadura match I'm talking about. I highly recommend to watch from 80' minute onwards (context: Extremadura won 1-0 in first leg so Cartagena needed a goal to at least go to extra time)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6mSd8cAKM4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Quilava, very interesting

      Delete
    2. It is very difficult these days to find referees with such personality and authority

      Delete
    3. Importance of having a manager who knows how to make the right choices

      Delete
    4. Jacques....it is more difficult to find managers who know how to make the right choices

      Delete
  53. Manchester United vs. Villarreal || Felix Zwayer [Christian Dingert]

    Big Decisions:

    59' - foul call for freekick leading to *1-1 goal; teamwork
    https://streamable.com/shfec0

    71' - reckless or SFP? Yellow card given to MUN no.27
    https://streamable.com/sicxnu

    +95' - offside offence before *2-1 goal?
    https://streamable.com/eba2lk

    => in terms of MtG, full clip HL can be found here:
    https://fromsmash.com/manutdvillarrealzwayer

    ReplyDelete
  54. Predictions Nations League

    ITA-ESP: Makkelie (NED)
    BEL-FRA: Siebert (GER)

    Final: Taylor (ENG)
    Third place: Grinfeld (ISR)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would also predict Taylor for the final. In my opinion, he was a little bit underrated during/after EURO 2020.

      Delete
  55. Greek SL

    Aris - Apollon Smyrnis

    Ref Diamantopoulos (UEFA 3rd) VAR Ferreira (POR)

    Penalty or not?

    https://streamable.com/nzfzuz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a penalty for me, correct by VAR to support the play on.
      However, in case of penalty assigned it should have been confirmed as well, there is very likely a soft touch, but nothing more.

      Delete

Thank you for writing a comment on our blog!